Alessandro Nesta: 'Gianluigi Buffon can play on for Italy'

Former Italy defender Alessandro Nesta has backed veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon to continue his international career.

Buffon, 36, and his Italian teammates were knocked out of the World Cup on Tuesday as a 1-0 defeat to Uruguay saw them fail to get out of Group D.

Despite some doubts over whether Buffon will continue playing for Italy following the team's exit, Nesta believes that he should carry on for the Azzurri.

"For how long Gianluigi Buffon remains with the national team I'm not sure," he told Goal.com. "In my opinion he's still the best goalkeeper and he showed it against Uruguay as well.

"He can decide whatever is best for him but my view is that he's still extremely competitive."

Buffon is Italy's most-capped player with 142 appearances for the national team.